Miners angry at BMA announcement

DETAILS were still scarce yesterday, a day after the shock BMA announcement that would force Norwich Park miners to take annual leave and potentially a pay cut.

The company has announced that it would “partially shut down” the mine for a month from June 10, followed by a pay cut for about 100 of the 400-strong workforce.

CFMEU district vice president Steve Pierce went to the 6pm workers meeting at Dysart on Wednesday night and said most just absorbed what the mine told them before heading home, or back to work, to let the news sink in.

Mr Pierce said many were angry that they heard the news through the media even before the company had broken the news to workers.

“So people were a bit angry about that,” he said.

“It's pretty much a total shutdown.

“There will be two draglines running, limited drill and blast operations and train loading.”

He said while BMA had not so far worked closely with the union there were indications it would release more details next week.

“Workers are still concerned about where it will all end up,” Mr Pierce said.

About three-quarters of the mine's permanent staff would be forced to take annual leave during the month of closure, but so far there had been no indication on how contractors at Norwich Park and other BMA-owned mines in the region would be affected.